Oysters In Champagne Sauce

Serves:

Ingredients:

24 Raw oysters - in shell
2 c Rock salt - or coarse salt
Freshly ground white pepper
1/4 ts Celery seed - ground
sparkling wine
1/2 c Champagne - or other dry
1/2 c Oyster juice - from above
1 1/2 tb Flour
1 1/2 tb Unsalted butter
--------- CHAMPAGNE SAUCE ---------
for the broiler pan

Method:

* 2 cups rock salt - or coarse salt for the broiler pan *DIRECTIONS* PREPARATION: Open the oysters as instructed in previous recipe ("Opening Oysters in the Microwave").
Measure 1/2 cup of the strained cooking liquid and reserve.
CHAMPAGNE SAUCE: Melt the butter in a 1-quart glass or ceramic measure or bowl, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 cup reserved oyster juices and Champagne and cook, uncovered, on high, stirring twice during cooking, for 4 minutes or until thickened.
Recipe can be made to this point a few hours ahead.
COOKING AND SERVING: Heat the broiler with rack set at its highest level.
Stir celery seed and white pepper to taste into the sauce.
Spread 2 cups of coarse or rock salt in the bottom of a broiler pan to steady oysters.
Nestle reserved shells into salt.
Put each oyster in a shell and thoroughly coat the tops with sauce.
Put under preheated broiler until just golden, about 2 minutes.
Makes 4 first-course servings.
NOTE: This is a simple and elegant classic.
You can prepare the oysters and sauce ahead in the microwave, and then broil for a minute or two just before serving.
The obvious wine to serve is Champagne.
If you choose another dry sparkling wine to drink instead, use the same one in the sauce.
Recipe from Barbara Kafka, Cook's Magazine, September/October, 198 7.